Cowtown Opera.

Experience the amazing 2018/19Season!

About Us

Our Vision

Cowtown Opera has become a signature artistic company of Calgary, surprising audiences with cheeky, English-language interpretations of operatic classics, remarkable vocal calibre, and daring new projects.

Cowtown Opera provides unique and entertaining performances that holler “Calgary!”
At Cowtown, we explore the intersection of classical and popular culture with innovative and contemporary performances.

Our Team

Michelle MinkeFounder and Artistic Director

In 2011 Cowtown Opera founder and Calgary native Michelle Minke grabbed the bull by the horns and acted on a vision to breathe new life into an art form that has traditionally been misunderstood as elitist and boring. She and business partner Carrie Kalmykov launched Cowtown Opera with a goal of breaking pre-conceived notions about opera and providing performance opportunities for local opera talent.

Under Michelle’s leadership as Artistic Director, Cowtown Opera has developed a reputation for high quality, entertaining, accessible and original productions. She was also instrumental in creating the Cowtown Opera Summer Academy at Mount Royal Conservatory, which has provided world-class training to aspiring opera singers since 2012.

Michelle received her opera training at the Royal Academy of Music in London England, Bachelor of Music and Masters in Vocal Pedagogy from the University of Toronto. Michelle is a recipient of the Mayors Enbridge Emerging Artists Award and was named top 40 Under 40 for Avenue Magazine. She was seen as a headliner for the 2013 Calgary Stampede Grandstand Show and has performed with the Canadian Opera Company, Calgary Opera, Cowtown Opera, the Anghiari Music Festival and numerous high-profile events in Calgary and across Canada.

Bethany Yon holds a Masters of Music from Western University in London, Ontario and a Bachelor of Music from Ambrose University in Calgary, Alberta. Bethany has embraced advanced study opportunities with Accademia Europea Dell’Opera (AEDO), The Centre for Opera Studies in Italy (COSI), as well as Edmonton, Alberta’s Opera NUOVA. Active in the musical community in her home city, Bethany has worked with Concert Opera Company, Cowtown Opera, Calgary Opera Chorus, Classical Revolution, Calgary Pro Arts Society as well as throughout Canada and internationally. A passionate leader and manager, Bethany has, throughout her academic and professional careers, led in a vast array of administrative and business-centered capacities including conference and event planning, sponsorship generation and production management. Bethany has been recognized throughout her career as a recipient of the 2016 Calgary Arts Development Individual Artist Grant, the 2014 London Opera Guild Scholarship as well as the 2011 John Swindells Memorial Music Scholarship.

Bethany was honoured in 2019 at the Mayor’s Lunch for the Arts as the inaugural recipient of the Rozsa Foundation Emerging Arts Administrator Award.

With a love for the Cowtown Opera Company community and message at the centre of her endeavours as Executive Director, Bethany strives to lead Cowtown to and through new and exciting stages of growth, development, recognition and advancement.

A director, writer, and actor, Aaron has worked with Cowtown Opera on many productions including The Phantom of the Opera Sing-Along,La Bohème, The Bachelor, Archibaldo, Prison Divas, The Secret Lives of Corporate Calgary, and NYC Meets YYC. He was also a co-librettist on Cowtown’s new opera Annie Davidson.

Aaron’s other directing credits include: The Magic Flute, The Scorpions’ Sting, Hansel and Gretel, Hannaraptor (Calgary Opera School Tours), The After Party, The Way of All Fish (Lunchbox Theatre), Dying City (Pangloss), The Old Neighborhood (Rogues Theatre), Iraq and Back (Ghost River Theatre).

Aaron studied acting at Mount Royal University and at École Philippe Gaulier in Paris. For ten years, he was the co-artistic producer and director of Dirty Laundry, Calgary’s live, improvised soap opera, where he directed over 150 episodes.

Meghan, mezzo-soprano, is a born-and-raised Calgarian who has spent the last year getting to know the arts scene in her home town. Besides enjoying performance opportunities with the Calgary Opera Chorus and Cowtown Opera, Meghan has forayed into the world of marketing and social media management for the Land’s End Ensemble, and will be taking on the social media management of local arts organization, Prairie Debut. Notable performances include Mrs. Soames in the Canadian Premiere of Ned Rorem’s Our Town, Mrs. Nolan in Menotti’s The Medium, Zita inGianni Schicchi, Lady Jane in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Patience. Aside from performing, Meghan is currently a voice teacher in Calgary as well as the event manager for Cowtown Opera.

Pianist Evan Mounce enjoys a close association with Calgary Opera, Cowtown Opera, Cantaré Children’s Choir, and the Calgary Philharmonic Chorus. He also works as a freelancer; vocal coaching aspiring stars and fully-fledged ones including k.d. lang. Primarily a self-taught pianist (Piano for Dummies circa 2003), in 2015 Evan decided to get serious about lessons and currently studies with Kathleen van Mourik. Evan holds a MMus from the University of Toronto in saxophone performance. His favourite artistic collaboration is with his wife, soprano Laura Brandt, and may soon include music-making with their son – born July 29th!

Sara StaplesCOSA (Cowtown Opera Summer Academy) Artistic Director

Sara Staples, Mezzo-Soprano is an active performer across North America specializing in opera, concert work and in professional ensembles. She has performed the roles of Annie Davidson (Annie Davidson), Maria (The Sound of Music), La Suora Zelatrice (Suor Angelica), Fiamma with Mercury Opera, Hansel (Hansel and Gretel), Mercédès (Carmen), Doris Whithers (Mr. Moreover’s Magic), The Foreign Princess (Rusalka), Nancy (Albert Herring), Hermia (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) and Hora (Egisto). Equally at home on the concert stage, Sara has been featured as the Mezzo-Soprano soloist with The Richard Eaton Singers, The Bow Valley Chorus, The Wild West New Music Ensemble, The Calgary Bach Society, Symphony of the Vines, Luminous Voices, Spiritus Chamber Choir, Voicescapes and La Vie. She has also performed as a soloist at the Taipei International Choral Festival and the Boston Early Music Festival. Also an active recitalist, Ms. Staples has performed as a part of the Mountain View International Festival of Song, Chamber Music, The Paso Robles Paderewski Festival, The Sunday’s Live Concert series at Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Casalmaggiore International Festival. Ms. Staples holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of North Texas and a Master of Music in Vocal Arts from the University of Southern California. Also a voice teacher in Calgary, Sara is passionate about arts education and the next generation of performing artists. She is thrilled to be the Artistic Director of the Cowtown Opera Summer Academy (COSA).

Ainsley Soutiere is proud to be the Education Coordinator for the Cowtown Opera Summer Academy, as well as filling in some other administrative duties for Cowtown Opera in her spare time. She also works for the Rozsa Foundation, and for the Calgary Chapter of the International Women’s Form. Ainsley is thrilled to be keeping her feet wet in Calgary’s arts scene and is even more thrilled she gets to do it with Calgary’s only indie opera company!

Specific times will be assigned individually no later than March 30th.

In person auditions are always our preference, but should you be unable to attend the audition date, video submissions of the same required repertoire will also be accepted on or before Fri. April 5th, 2019 in the form of Dropbox, GoogleDrive or Youtube links emailed to admin@cowtownopera.com

ALL CURRENT ROSTER SINGERS MUST RE AUDITION ANNUALLY.

Support Us

Cowtown Opera relies on the generous support of sponsors and donors to help us produce high quality entertainment and fulfill our mandate of Bringing Opera to the People. You can help us achieve our vision by becoming a sponsor, donor or volunteer.

Sponsors

We value our sponsors for their support of the arts in our city and province and want to build great, long-lasting partnerships. Let us create the perfect sponsorship package for your business including recognition, advertising and perks such as tickets and private performances.

“Much gratitude for a very fun evening. Everything I'd hoped for and more. The performance was simply delightful and my audience left the theatre well pleased at the value they got for their entertainment dollar. Thanks for making me look good.”

“Amanda and Maria were awesome - they were fun, engaging and our guests were delighted with the performance, as were we....It was a special treat for our Christmas party and was a great way to put us all in the right spirit for the "reason for the season”

“Taylor was absolutely fabulous! She was undoubtedly the hit of the party - it was so very special. I appreciate having had the opportunity to have her here as it really made our party a smashing success.”

Summer Academy

Cowtown Opera Summer Academy

July 18-27, 2019

Training Opera Singers for the Future

The Cowtown Opera Summer Academy offers intensive short-term studies for singers who wish to hone their skills in the areas of opera, art song, stagecraft and career development. Our inspirational faculty of professionals with international experience will assist you with all aspects of vocal and artistic development. COSA is geared towards singers who are entering into, currently enrolled in, or finished their post-secondary education in vocal studies. A performance opportunity in the closing concert will be offered to every student.

The program includes:

Yoga for the Voice & Breath and Body Work Private and Group Sessions

Individual Voice Lessons & Coachings

Private Aria Staging Sessions

Stagecraft & Improvisation Classes

Theatre Scene Study Coachings

Masterclasses in French Melodie, German Lieder, Opera Arias and more

Classes on Vocal Health, Career Development, Opera History and Aesthetics, IPA

OutRiders

If you don’t think you’re quite ready to take the full COSA plunge, this is a great way to get your feet wet! The OutRider program is a wonderful opportunity for actors, dancers, choral singers, instrumentalists or anyone looking for a taste of an opera singer’s world! OutRiders tuition includes participation in the following classes & seminars:

Yoga and Breath Therapy for the Voice (5)

Stagecraft & Improvisation Classes (5)

Select 2 of the following seminars:

Vocal Health
Marketing for Singers
Audition Prep
Opera History and Aesthetics
The Wilson Method for Voice: Singing with Ease, Power & Support

Please note that OutRiders are not required to audition for COSA, however they must still submit a completed application form (including all fields that apply) by Friday June 21, 2019.

Masterclasses

COSA is proud to present the opportunity for the Calgary community to observe and learn from our excellent Faculty Members at our 2019 Masterclasses. All classes are open to voice students, teachers and the general public who are interested in catching a glimpse into the world of classical singing. We remind all guests that the focus of these sessions is furthering the vocal and educational journey of our COSA participants and proper masterclass etiquette must be adhered to. We welcome guests to enjoy the teachings of our internationally recognized instructors for $10 per session, with all proceeds funding scholarships for future COSA students.

Application Information

Please note: Your application to attend Cowtown Opera Summer Academy is not a registration or notice of acceptance — all applicants must audition prior to acceptance.

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS:

Singers–One aria selection–One art song selection(any two languages must be represented)

OutRiders–There is no audition process for OutRiders.–A completed application & tuition must be received by Friday June 21, 2019

Audition in person on March 16 & 17th at MRU or send an electronic video submission of your audition as an email attachment or YouTube link to COSA@CowtownOpera.com .

Deadline for electronic submissions is Friday, March 8, 2019.

Please note that the Cowtown Opera Summer Academy is an Intensive and students are expected to attend the entire length and participate in all aspects of the course. We cannot accept applications from persons with scheduled conflicts during the outlined dates.